The Hermetic Libraryelaborated on my post, filling in many gaps. Thanks to them I learned that Nema is still around, and her writings are to be found in a number of places. While not from Chicago, her writings influenced the OAI, and will no doubt be of interest to many readers here. She authored the book Maat Magic, A Guide to Self Initiation, which was published by Weiser.

An interview with Nema on the now defunct Thelema Coast to Coast podcast. I am about to listen to this so can't fully comment, but it appears that her portion is a small bit of a much larger show.http://hermetic.com/tctc/archives/31

I've been putting off posting about William Walker Atkinson due to the fact that there is such a wealth of information that I honestly don't know where to begin. Simply put, Atkinson was a writer, publisher and major player in the New Thought Movement. The full story is much more complicated than that.

Atkinson (1862 - 1932) worked in a variety of professions, settling into the role of lawyer while in Pennsylvania. After a variety of ups and downs in his personal life, he disappeared for six weeks around the turn of the century with a renewed passion for life and interest in the occult. At this point he immediately moved to Chicago and began writing articles under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms, including Theron Q. Dumont and Yogi Ramacharaka.

In Chicago he also founded the Yogi Publication Society, which was located in the Masonic Temple building - the name sounded great for the publishing company, but there was actually no Masonic affiliation with the Yogi Publication Society. The Masonic Temple was the city's first skyscraper - the Masons met on the top floors, the rest were rented to a variety of different businesses.

The Yogi Publication Society published the Kyballion, a book of Hermetic teachings which was compiled by "Three Initiates." Shrouded in mystery, it is now accepted that Atkinson himself wrote this book.

The Chicago Examiner, in 1910, with an article introducing yoga to the general public via Atkinson's pseudonym, Yogi Ramacharaka (here spelled Ramachakra).

Luckily for us, Philip Deslippe has dedicated himself to unraveling the mysteries surround Atkinson's life and abundant literary output. He has recently released a definitive edition of the Kyballion.

For an excellent interview with Deslippe regarding Atkinson, visit this podcast on Occult of Personality. After you listen to that interview, listen to all of the remaining on the site, as they are all excellent.

Of note to those paying attention, Atkinson co-authored one book with infamous local L.W. de Laurence entitled Psychomancy and Crystal Gazing.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Occult Chicago has existed for just over three months now. I'd like to take a minute to thank everyone for reading. I've received tons of positive feedback, met some great people and learned a lot from the correspondences of readers.

In particular I would like to thank some of the wonderful blogs that have repeatedly posted about Occult Chicago. Each of these is well worth following and reading on a regular basis.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

I've held off posting more about Lauren de Laurence, as I assumed that others were probably getting tired of hearing about my personal favorite local dubious historical publisher. After some positive feedback, I'm giving in and posting a few things that I've come across.

Firstly, Michael Nowicki has posted several images from de Laurence's catalogs, along with an amusing story on Rosicrucians.org.

A Tarot website at http://home.comcast.net/~vilex includes many images regarding the de Laurence Company's Tarot deck (a blatant copy of the Ryder-Waite deck). The author goes into great detail regarding different printings of de Laurence's deck and related books.

"The Key to the Tarot: Oracles
Behind the Veil, by Dr. L.W. de Laurence. It is, or should
be, common knowledge that this book is AE Waite's Pictorial
Key to the Tarotword for word!"

Website Church of Good Luck includes scans of de Laurence's catalogs. Follow the link to see several advertisements.

"Artist's Conception of de Laurence Wearing a Turban and a Tunic"

"De Laurence wrote a lot of his own material in addition to his habit of
"borrowing", and what he wrote best was ad copy. He managed to fill
over 500 pages in his 1931 catalog, and it stands to this day as
a monument to bombast."

And so that I am able to contribute something of my own, here is a snapshot of the back page of an issue of Occult Digest from 1933 (three years before de Laurence would pass away). Included are ads for Practical Lessons in Hypnotism and Magnetism, and The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism. The latter, you may recall, was found in a local bookstore (with alternate "Hindoo" spelling).

Friday, July 13, 2012

July 29th, from noon until 3pm.Come and discover how the ancient
Greco-Roman world used small etched lead sheets to seek not only revenge
and retribution, but also love and happiness. In addition to a
discussion of the purpose, production, and use of curse tablets, this
presentation will show participants how to make their own in case the need ever arises.

Eitel August Wilhelm Adelbert Oskar Joachim Viktoria, Graf von Pappenheim, is a specialist in ancient evil manuscripts working in the service of the German Reich.

Jim Kollenbroich has a PhD in History and works in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Due to the space constraints at Owen and Engine, our Society may either
have a maximum of 15 people for the parlor room or we may use the
entire upstairs, but must purchase $1000 in food and drink as a group
(this means a minimum of 40 attendees buying a full brunch and drink,
around $25 before tip and tax). So, in order to plan for the event, we
ask that you RSVP by emailing the professor at kgreen5@gmail.com to
confirm that you will be attending the lecture.

All RSVPs will
be served on a first come, first serve basis. Should we reach 40
confirmed attendees, everyone will be welcome (and welcome to bring
guests too). Otherwise, your name will go on our waiting list for one of
15 coveted slots in the parlor room and you'll be notified the week of
the event!

As always, neo-Victorian and Steampunk dress is strongly encouraged at all meetings of the Owen Society.

One month today, I will be leaving on my honeymoon to Vienna. Pretty exciting.

I was wondering if any of the wonderful readers of Occult Chicago have any suggestions as to where to visit. We already have a massive list of museums to visit. However I wonder about other places of interest.

I know that Mesmer, von Reichenbach and Wilhelm Reich were all in Vienna at some point. So clearly there is something regarding subtle energies in the air in Vienna. Both Carl Kellner and Rudolph Steiner lived there. There have been plenty of organizations (some decidedly dubious) originating in Vienna over the years.

Any suggestions regarding archives, displays, places of historical interest and etc. would be highly appreciated.

I've been contacted regarding these upcoming events. Both have been added to the calendar.

Gede Parma will be returning to Chicago this July! Gede’s new book
“Ecstatic Witchcraft: Magick, Philosophy, and Trance in the Shamanic
Craft” was just released through Llewellyn publications. The Brotherhood
of the Phoenix is proud to present two opportunities to meet and learn
from Gede. Both these events are open to the general public.

Saturday, July 28th from 10-4pm: Gede will present his day long
intensive workshop “Initiation and the Path of the Shamanic Witch.” Cost: $90 for the day Location: Life Force Arts Center, 1609 W. Belmont Avenue.http://www.lifeforcearts.org/site/location/location-a-directions
In order to attend this workshop you must RVSP to Keith Green at
kgreen5@gmail.com. Detailed information about the event will be sent to
you with your confirmation e-mail.

More information about the workshop: Initiation and the Path of the Shamanic Witch (Full-day Intensive)
This workshop explores the etymological origins of the word ‘Witch’ and
how, through history, sociology and cultural anthropology we can
understand the European phenomenon of Witchcraft to be equivalent to the
tribal ‘shamanism’ of many of the world’s indigenous societies.

Since the Pagan renaissance and revival (from the mid-1800s onwards) a
high degree of ceremonial magick has been integrated with what once was
pure and simple shamanism. Many of the Wiccan traditions tend towards
the ceremonial; however Gede Parma (author and initiated Witch) will
introduce a practice of Witchcraft that is informed by the definition –
‘ecstasy-driven, Earth-based, mystery tradition’. The Craft, seen and
lived through this lens, is also a system for and of personal and
communal empowerment, deep paradigm and consciousness shifts (altering
consciousness), transformation, healing and initiation.

This
full-day intensive will work through the three-tiered shamanic cosmology
generally accepted as – the Upperworld, the Middleworld and the
Underworld. These realms correspond with our Superconscious Selves, our
Conscious Selves, and our Unconscious Selves, respectively. To bring
wholeness to all, and to accept and integrate the Shadow/the Unconscious
(the Veil separating us from realising our true divinity) we activate
the World Tree within, which affirms our eternal connection to all
realms, to all times; in the Forever Here and the Eternal Now.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

While the Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum was originally founded in England in 1979, their United States headquarters were established in Chicago in 1981.

From what I can determine, the OAI practiced a form of feminist Thelema.

The OAI also adopts feminist principles and practices—not the anti-male separatist variety—but in its non-sexist androgynous philosophy. Women are not the vehicle of a male seed, a male High Priest. They are magickal people in their own right. The history of female magickal energy is far older than that of the male, but it has been overshadowed by the masculine principle. The OAI seeks to rectify this by balancing the imbalance through women seeking to rediscover and reassert themselves, while male members minimize as far as possible their aggressiveness and dominance. In turn, this will lead to a more directly visible equality and non-hierarchical structure within the group and in rituals.

The OAI teachings followed Aleister Crowley, Jack Parsons and an Ohio woman known as Nema, following a Maatian Current.

From Western Esoteric Family III: Magick:The Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum (OAI) is a British-based thelemicist order alignedto the Maatian magical “current.” It grew out of the proclamation of the magicalAeon of Ma (or Maat) proclaimed in 1948 by Frater Achad (Charles StansfeldJones). Maat is the ancient Egyptian goddess of Truth and Justice. The order lookstoward a planetary manifestation of the presence of Maat, whose coming has beenheralded by three twentieth-century trends: the great liberation movements lead-ing to the recognition of human rights; the attempts to balance male-dominatedWestern magic; and the nonelitist androgynous approach to magic practiced byMaatian groups. In recognition of their acceptance of feminist liberation concernsand the nonsexist nature of their magical workings, members of the OAI havedropped the use of common designations of male and female members as fraterand soror in favor of the single designation persona.

The OAI began in England in 1979 in the informal workings of three Thelemicmagicians (two women and one man). In 1980 they made a formal alignment tothe Aeon of Maat and thus the OAI came into existence. At the end of the year, thethree original members separated. One went to Fez, Morocco, and the followingyear, one came to Chicago, where the first members of the OAI were received.

The order has developed as a very loose confederation of otherwise independ-ent magicians pursuing their own magical experiments in alignment to theMaatian Aeon. Periodically, members will gather for group rituals. New initiates arereceived after their successful performance of Liber Samekh He, a revised version ofLiber Samekh, a Thelemic ritual designed to promote conversation with one’s HolyGuardian Angel (higher self). The order is nonhierarchical. Leadership can be exer-cised by any member and teaching is a matter of sharing the results of individualritual workings with the larger membership. All members have access to all mate-rials possessed by the order.

Membership: In 1985 members of the order, reported to number less than 100,could be found in England, the Chicago metropolitan area, and California.

While their history and manifesto is easily found online as a PDF, their many other writings are much more difficult to find. I've yet to find a listing for their Chicago headquarters, or any other information for that matter. As always, those with information are encouraged to make contact.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

It wasn't until I buried myself in this blog that I learned that the Theosophical Society's national headquarters are just outside of Chicago in Wheaton, IL.

The grounds are beautiful and include a Labyrinth walk. A wonderful day trip to escape the city. Apparently I was too distracted by the greenery to photograph any of the buildings.

Also on the grounds is Quest Bookshop. While one wall is dedicated to Theosophical texts, the store itself caters to all paths. There is a great collection of new books (and a small collection of used), along with crystals and gemstones, statuary incense and more. If you don't mind a bit of a drive, the grounds and the bookstore definitely warrant a visit.

I noticed this neon sign while going for a walk the other day on Wabansia. Besides the Philosopher's Stone, they also had two signs advertising "Free Hugs."

A bit of research reveals that this is the headquarters of Give Forward. I hadn't even realized they were located in Chicago. On a personal note, I'm glad that Give Forward exists, as it provides a way for those in need to raise money.